Easter lockdown in Bavaria: only virtual church service? Churches react "surprised"

The corona pandemic is currently not allowing any easing - strict rules apply in Bavaria over Easter.

For Christians, going to church on public holidays is also on the brink.

Munich - The Easter plan for Bavaria is in place.

Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) made it clear in a press conference that there will be no easing in the Free State over the holidays.

On the contrary.

A super lockdown over Easter, during which Bavaria is to be shut down almost completely for five days, is imminent.

Not only traditional family get-togethers on the Easter weekend will have to be canceled.

Even for devout Christians, this year's Easter could turn out very differently than usual. Because with a classic church attendance in the Free State this year, as in the previous year, it will probably be difficult because of Corona *.

Easter lockdown in Bavaria: only virtual church service?

Churches react "surprised"

After the deliberations at the Corona summit, which lasted into the early hours of the morning, the federal and state governments expressed the wish: Easter service, only virtual, please.

Markus Söder, who always surprises with special ways for Bavaria, did not oppose directly here either.

The Bavarian state government would support the fact that church services should take place virtually, it said at the press conference on Tuesday afternoon (23 March).

However, one does not want to exert any pressure on the churches.

Georg Bätzing, chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, is not very enthusiastic about only virtual possibilities.

“We were surprised,” he wrote on Twitter after the summit announcements.

“Easter is the most important festival for us, church services are not an accessory.

At Christmas we showed how we can celebrate Mass with caution.

We don't want to do without that at Easter, ”he said in his tweet.

#Bishop Bätzing: We were surprised.

Easter is the most important festival for us, church services are not an accessory.

At Christmas we showed how we can celebrate Mass with caution.

We don't want to do without that at Easter.

We'll bring it into the talks.

- German Bishops' Conference - official account (@dbk_online) March 23, 2021

In the video: New lockdown rules in Bavaria - The big overview

Corona in Bavaria: Easter service only virtual?

Regional bishop expresses himself

The Bavarian regional bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, who is also Chairman of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), was also taken by

surprise on Tuesday morning, according to the Bavarian Protestant weekly newspaper

Sonntagsblatt

.

The most important festival for Christians is affected, said Bedford-Strohm.

The regional bishop stated that committees would now consult on the subject, the

Sunday newspaper

said

.

Attending church services on public holidays is not currently prohibited.

Strict distance rules and limited numbers of participants apply in all churches.

Singing together is generally prohibited at church services in Bavaria, and FFP2 masks are required *.

(

nema

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